Automatic annunciator



Nov. 23; 1937. L. J. SING El AL 2,099,868

HUTOMATIC ANNUNCIATOR Filed-Jan. 26/1935 4 Sheets- Sheet 1 Nov. 23, 1937. 1 L. J. SING ET AL 7 2,099,868

AUTOMATIC ANNUNGIATOR Filed Jan. 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllll A J. SING ET AL 8 AUTOMATIC ANNUNCIATOR Filed Jan. 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. ,23, 1937.

Nov. 23, 1937. L. J. SING El AL I AUTOMATIC ANNUNCIATOR Filed Jan. 26, 1935 4 Sheets-She et 4 anw Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED sTATEs" AUTOMATIC ANNUNCIATOR Lang Jung Sing and Robert M. Waunch, Salem, Oreg- .Applicatlon January 26, 1935, Serial No. 3,619

3 Claims. This invention relates to automatic annunciators, and is particularly adapted to advertising and alarm systems. Our new and improved annunciator consists of a mechanism for announcing a predetermined recording or recordings through an amplifying set, into a loud speaker, public address system or other suitable receiving set.

The beginning of a cycle of operation is commenced by interrupting an invisible light ray which is constantly being directed to a photoelectric cell, either directly from a light source or indirectly through a system of mirrors chang ing the direction of the light ray from the source to the photo-electric cell.

The electric reaction developed within the photo-electric cell, by the interruption of the invisible light ray, is amplified sufllcient to operate an electric relay, this relay closes an electric circuit causing a solenoid to bring into operating position a pick-up mechanism transferring a recording from a record to an amplifying set thence to the loud speaker, public address system or other suitable receiving set.

In the operation of our invention inrelation to advertising, the loud speaker can be stationed at any desired location. The invisible light ray is directed across the path to be traversed by the person or subjects, the momentary interrupv tion of the ray immediately setting the annunciator into operation broadcasting the desired advertising or information.

In the event that our annunciator is tobe used as a burglar alarm system, the invisible rays would be directed across all entrances to the building and in such cross-sectional shape that they would be sure tobe interrupted setting the annunci-ator into operation either notifying a central stationoi. the entry or broadcasting on the immediate premises.

It will be readily understood that there are many uses to which our invention can be readily adapted to besides the applications just mentioned above.

Other, further and additional objects oi the invention will be readily seen upon reading the description thereoLaided by the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

50 Figure 1 is a diagrammatical layout of the units making up our new and improved automatic annunciator, the purpose of this view is 1 to illustrate the location of the annunciator, the invisible light ray producing unit employing mirrors to change the direction of the ray so as to surround, a given point with a ray, before it reaches the photo-electric cell unit.

Figure 2 is aside elevation of the photo-electric cell unit partially broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partially broken away illustrating the invisible light producing ray unit.

Figure 4is a diagrammatical layout including the light ray producing unit, a mirror reflecting the light ray in another direction, the photoelectric cell receiving the ray, the amplifying unit and the relay switch for throwing the address system into operation.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatical layout of the pick-up mechanism associated with the recorded subject matter to be broadcast, the loud speaker and the amplifying unit connected therewith.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the record, pick-up arm, and our new and improved mechanism for controlling the operation of the pick-up and reproducing arm.

Figure '7 is a side elevation of the above mechanism.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the above mechanism showing the pick-up arm just .as it is finishing the subject matter contained on the record and ready to be returned to a starting position.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional end-view of a part of the mechanism for returning the pick-up arm to a starting point. i

Referring to they drawings, we have shown a station or building .l, a sidewalk 2. is shown'passing in 'front of the. building. .A curb entry 3. connects the sidewalk with the curb. The invisible light ray'producing mechanism is illustrated at l producing a light ray 5- reflecting it on a mirror 6 thence to another mirror 1 directing it into 'the'photo-electric' cell unit 8. It can be 40 seen that any person walking by on the sidewalk. 2 will interrupt the light rays directed into the photo-electric cell unit 8 or coming directly into the entry 3 will also interrupt the light ray. The

loud speaker is stationed at 9, the amplifying unit is indicated at III. In some cases using our system of announcing there may not be any loud speaker as a receiver may be stationed at a distant point for receiving the signal from the amplifier i0.

Referring to Figure 2 the photo-electric cell II is mounted within the case I! and is surrounded by a shield is and an adjustable lens ll is mounted within the tube ii. The tube It being adjustable longitudinally within the tube It. An

amplifying unit partially shown at I! is also located within the case it.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the ray producing unit having a reflector ll mounted therein receiving its source of invisible ray from the globe I! reflecting the same out through the lens II as above referred to.

In Figure 4 the ray producing unit is shown as 2| directing a ray 2! to mirror. 2! into the photoelectric cell H an electric reaction takes place within this cell and is amplified by the amplifying unit 24 which consists of the rectifying and positive current supply unit 24a, having a positive current connection 24b which is connected to the plate of the amplifying tube 240. The electrodes of the photo-electric cell II are connected respectively to ground and control grid of tube 24c operates the relay switch 25 in series with the positive supply 242), thus closing the electric circuit from the transformer 20 Figure 5, conductor 21, switch bar 28, conductor 20 solenoid ll, back to the transformer by conductor ll. Bolenoid draws the core I! down pulling the end 33 of the bar 84 down, the bar 34 being pivotally mounted at It raises the end ll lifting the pin I! away from the v-shape trough ll permitting the pick-up bar 39 to be lowered to the record". The pick-up bar 39 is pivotally mounted on the pedestal 4|, in a well-known manner. The turntable 42, which is rotated by a conventional electric motor, not shown, is in constant rotation so that when the pick-up bar needle 0 contacts the record 40 the reproduction will take place immediately. A switch bar 44 mounted to the end 45 of the pick-up bar and insulated there from engages the electric terminal 40 closing an electric circuit from-the transformer 23, conductor ll, switch bar N, terminal 46, conductor ll, conductor 29, solenoid l0 and conductor ii to transformer 26. The object of this last circuit is to continue the energizing the solenoid ll after the'photo-electric cell had momentarily energized the solenoid, in other words this circuit is a locking circuit. Referring to Figure 8 when the pick-up arm has completed the subject matter to be broadcast from the record, the switch bar 44 breaks contact with the terminal I, breaking the locking circuit, allowing the solenoid 30 to become demagnetized. The interval of engagement of the 'bar 44 with terminal ll may be hastened or delayed. This is accomplished by providing a slot a in the base of member 46. This slot rides upon the screw b to which is threaded a nut 0. By tightening the nut on the screw member b, member 4| is held against movement. However by loosening the nut member 46 may be moved back and forth, or pivoted on screw b. This allows member 0 to be positioned to or from member ll thereby hastening or delaying their engagement relative to the time interval of reproduction from a record. The spring 49 pulls the end I! of the bar 3| downward, referring to Figure 9, the pin 31 contacts the incline surface 50 of the trough 38 which will raise the point 43 carried by the pick-up arm 39 out of contact with the record II at the same time forcing the end 45 of the pickup arm to the right as indicated by the arrow in Figure 9 which will swing the opposite end of the pick-up arm towards the beginning of the record. The spring 49 will continue to hold the pickup arm out of engagement with the record until the invisible ray is again broken, setting up another complete cycle of operation. Adjustments II and I! are provided for adjusting the stopping points of the pick-up arm at the position of rest.

The usuil leads I! connect the pick-up arm with the input of the amplifier N which is connected with the loudspeaker coil '5. An amplifier unit, which is of the conventional type, consists of the rectifying unit a; and also comprises the input It, amplifying tubes Nb, intermediate transformers "c, and output transformer ltd which is connected to the voice coil of speaker I.

From the foregoing it can be readily seen that the momentary breaking of the invisible ray starts the broadcasting of the desired information after which the machine is locked in operating position until the information has been broadcast, a secondary breaking of the photoelectric ray will not in any way affect this cycle of operation after it has once been set into effect.

We do not wish to be limited to this particular form of construction as our invention is susceptible to other forms of embodiment still coming within the scope of our invention as hereinafter claimed.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. In an annunciator system, the combination of a record reproduction means including a pickup, a rocking member engaging the reproduction means and moving it from a position terminating the reproduction of a record to a position to commence the reproduction of a record, an electromagnetic device connected to the rocking member operable when energized to move the rocking member to a position disengaging the reprcduction means, a circuit momentarily energizing the electromagnetic device, an electric switch closed by the reproduction means, and a holding circuit in series with the electromagnetic device and said switch.

2. An annunciator system, the combination of a record reproduction means including a pickup, a rocking member engaging the reproduction means and moving it from a position terminating the reproduction of a record to a position to commence the reproduction of a record, an electromagnetic device connected to the rocking member operable when energized to move the rocking member to a position disengaging the reproduction means, a circuit for momentarily energizing the electromagnetic device, an electric switch closed by the reproduction means during the period of reproduction, means for adjusting the switch to alter the period of opening and closing, and a holding circuit in series with the electromagnetic device and the switch.

3. An annunciator system, the combination of a record reproduction means including a pickup,

a pivoted bar, means urging the bar to normally engage the reproduction means and move it from a position terminating the reproduction of a record to a position to commence the reproduction of a record, an electromagnetic device connected to the bar operable when energized to move the bar against the action of the urging means to a position disengaging the reproduction means, a circuit for momentarily energizing the electromagnetic device, an electric switch closed by the reproduction means during the period of reproduction, and a holding circuit in series with the electromagnetic device and the switch.

L. JUNG SING. ROBERT M. WAUNCH. 

